Promoter and vectors for plant transformation and methods of using same

Abstract

The invention is directed to a promoter, designated MuB, sequences which hybridize to same and functional fragments thereof. The regulatory element of the invention provide improved expression in plants of operably linked nucleotide sequences. Expression vectors with the regulatory element is the subject of the invention, which may further include an operably linked nucleotide sequence. The invention is further directed to transformed plant tissue including the nucleotide sequence and to transformed plants and seeds thereof. The regulatory element is useful for driving gene or antisense expression or the like for the purpose of imparting agronomically useful traits such as, but not limited to, increase in yield, disease resistance, insect resistance, herbicide tolerance, drought tolerance and salt tolerance in plants.

1. A isolated regulatory element comprising a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; 
 (b) a sequence having more than 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1; and 
 (c) A sequence comprising a functional fragment of at least 71 bases of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the fragment exhibits regulatory element activity. 
 
     
     
       2. An expression vector comprising a regulatory element selected from the group consisting of:
 (a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; 
 (b) a sequence having more than 80% identity to SEQ ID NO: 1; 
 (c) a nucleotide sequence which hybridizes to SEQ ID NO: 1 under highly stringent conditions of a wash of 50% formamide, 1.0 M NaCl, 0.1% SDS at 37° C., and a wash in 0.1×SSC at 60° C., wherein the sequence exhibits regulatory element activity; and 
 (d) a sequence comprising a functional fragment of at least 71 bases of the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the fragment exhibits regulatory activity. 
 
     
     
       3. The expression vector of  claim 2  further comprising a second nucleotide sequence operably linked to the regulatory element, the second nucleotide sequence capable of conferring a selected agronomic trait to a plant. 
     
     
       4. The vector of  claim 3  wherein the agronomic trait is selected from the group consisting of herbicide resistance, insect resistance, disease resistance, drought tolerance, salt tolerance and increased yield. 
     
     
       5. A plant comprising the expression vector of  claim 2 . 
     
     
       6. A plant cell comprising the expression vector of  claim 2 . 
     
     
       7. A method of producing a transformed plant cell, the method comprising transforming a plant cell with the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 .